The Longwood Theatre Department opened their 2011-2012 play season with a bang with its production of Sean O'Casey's "Juno and the Paycock." The play is set in 1920s Ireland during a time of great turmoil for the Irish people, the Irish Civil War. The drama fused comedy and tragedy to create an accurate portrayal of Irish family life.
The story revolves around the Boyle family and their neighbors in the poor tenement they call home. Juno and her family are struggling to get by, and it doesn't help that her husband seems to have an aversion to any kind of work. He would rather be down at the pub drinking with his friend, Joxer Daly. All monetary troubles seem to be solved when Captain Boyle's cousin dies and leaves him a considerable sum of money in the will. However, the will was vaguely worded, and they stand little chance of receiving any money because people from all over Ireland try to stake a claim. This then leads to a series of misfortunes for the family.
The sub plot of the play revolves around Juno's son, Johnny Boyle. Johnny was severely injured during the 1916 Easter Uprising and, as a result, lost his arm. His hip was also injured as well. Throughout the show Johnny struggles with the demons of his past and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The cast of supporting characters added a refreshing bit of liveliness and color to the performance. The boisterous Mrs. Madigan brought comedy in the form of dirty jokes and song to the Boyle household. Her flashy manner of dress and slightly unladylike manners made her a memorable character. Joxer Daly, loveable, stuttering drunk was also a crowd pleaser with his antics.
I can only imagine that the actors had a bit of a struggle when attempting to perform with an Irish accent. For the most part, all could be clearly understood except for at the start of the performance and when a new character would enter the scene.
One of the most impressive aspects of the show was the set. The amount of detail that was put into it gave the performance an added bit of realism. The set utilized real windows and a functioning chandelier light fixture. The panes of glass were even made to look like they were smeared with soot. Furniture in the Boyle home remained mismatched throughout but became of nicer quality when they believed they were going to receive Captain Boyle's inheritance money.
Lighting throughout the performance fit the mood. When there were good times the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. When times were low for the cast, the lighting was dim, giving the set a somber feel.
Costumes were period appropriate and had a neutral color palette of beiges, browns, and blacks. Pops of colors such as green, blue, and red appeared when characters wore dress clothes for going out. Bright colors also showed up on costumes when the Boyle family found themselves basking in the thought of their future wealth.
Next up for Longwood Theatre is the musical "Godspell," written by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak, set to open on November 10.
